For most of my life my favorite season has been Fall. I love the changing colors, the approach of holidays, and the sense of new beginnings (e.g., new school years). As I’ve entered the “Fall season of my life,” however – I’m finding a new affinity for Spring! This shift may be partially due to having experienced a much harsher winter – with more days overcast, cold and wet than usual. I am definitely looking forward to the increasing light, warmth and green all around that

Last weekend I attended (along with MaryAnn and Sue, representing our Leadership Council) a Unity West Central Region Key Leader Training on Learning to Express Oneness in the World. The Saturday portion of the training was focused on understanding and living true inclusivity in our spiritual communities and our personal lives which, among other things, involves learning to courageously live with a level of discomfort as we learn how to more fully open ourselves to hearing an

“Who am I to become enlightened?” The question was asked by a newcomer to the temple classes offered by Geshe Wangpo (in The Dalai Lama’s Cat and The Four Paws of Spiritual Success). I’m sure many of us have had similar doubts. I loved Geshe’la’s response, offered with a gaze of deep compassion, “Who are you not to? The Buddha was once an ordinary man. He had his failings. Fortunately for us, not only did he attain enlightenment, but he showed us the most rapid way to attain

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Lenten period leading up to Easter Sunday. Lent, which literally means springtime, is a time of preparation for the joyous resurrection and birth we are invited to experience at Easter. In these 44 days of Lent, we have an opportunity to place our spiritual growth front and center, devoting time each day to prayer, meditation, spiritual reading, or any other discipline that draws us closer to God. Many folks think o

It’s hard to believe that I am planning Alexander 23rd birthday party! Some of you who remember back to when I was pregnant with him will probably find it hard to believe as well! Every year around this time, I always seem to find myself reflecting on my journey of motherhood and both the challenges and joys of raising a son with a developmental disability. Whenever I reflect on these things, I feel so much gratitude for our UMB community. I am so incredibly grateful that my

This Sunday is our annual Calling of the Circle meeting immediately following the service. Once a year we convene the entire congregation to vote on any pending matters, approve the current year’s proposed budget, and vote for/confirm new Leadership Council members. Before voting, we will hear briefly from each of our prospective new Leadership Council members. Then, as you have seen in past e-blasts and can read more about below, we will be voting to approve a very small cha

Once again, Divine Order has kicked in to inform my Sunday Lesson plans. (Of course, Divine Order is ALWAYS in play, as it flows consistently through the Law of Mind Action – but we’re not always aware.) In this particular case, Divine Order demonstrated in a series of fiction books by David Michie, featuring The Dalai Lama’s Cat (also known as HHC - His Holiness’s Cat) that was suggested to me in an Amazon email during my vacation. If you recall, in earlier eblasts I had inv

Hello Dear Ones: Right now, as you’re reading this, how do you feel at this very moment? Are you feeling stressed or relaxed? happy or sad? frustrated or at ease? Just make a mental note of your emotional and physical state in this moment. Now let’s pause for just a moment, put your hands in your lap, soften your gaze just slightly, and take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. Really fill your lungs up with air. Hold it for just a moment……and now release your breath slo

Last Sunday, I shared about a series of incredibly stressful things that have happened in my life over the past few weeks and how I used my Unity teachings and my spiritual beliefs to get through them. I hope some of my ideas may be helpful to you when your own stressful times occur. I mentioned in my sermon that I know so many of us have also had a number of stressful things going on recently such as getting sick, dealing with the storms and power outages, and all the other

I continue to contemplate the future of Unity of Monterey Bay, seeking to more fully embody “the voice and heart through which heaven is made known on earth…” as we navigate the ever-changing landscape and challenges of our earthly sojourn. I am practicing having ears to hear and eyes to see what we are being called to BE and DO – that is beyond our current understanding and/or awareness – knowing that we cannot resolve our current existential crises with the same consciousne